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Divetalking » Artificial Reefs, Boats, Contest, Diver, Divetalking, Donation, Earth, Education, Events, extinction, Featured, Fish, Games, Grouper, Lionfish, ocean, Open Water, Promotions, Recognition, Reefs, Reference, Report » NE Florida Lionfish Derby, 2013

NE Florida Lionfish Derby, 2013

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It was Friday August 23, 2013 and we met at Nippers for the required Captains Meeting. The room was filled with guest speakers and participants from all across Florida and part of Georgia. It would be the last opportunity to signup and participate in the Derby with awards as high as $1500.00 going to the team with the most lionfish.

During the evening, speakers Walt Quinn (2013 Derby Director and proprietor), Lad Akins with REEF and Marine Scientist Eric Johnson with the University of Florida would all come to stage and provide the participants with knowledge and tools to aide in the success of the Derby.

Listening to the presentations, finalizing the night with the rules for the Derby, we left pumped for the next days event.

One day only, Saturday August 24, 2013.

It is 6AM and we are loading the boats, preparing to head offshore Jacksonville for a day of Lionfish Harvesting. We are under a timeline and must turn in the days harvest no later than 5PM.. The rush is on.

12 boats and 22 teams participating, the challenge to be the team with the most lionfish, largest, and smallest lionfish, and largest lobster is on.

Here as a short of those two days.



The boats and teams show up at Nippers, found on the intercoastal waters just south of the St. Johns River in time to turn in their harvests, where researchers and scientists are waiting. All harvests were counted, weighed, and measured. The succulent white meat was filleted and the remaining parts turned over to the University of Florida, UNF for further research and analysis. The meat was not wasted and the chefs at Nippers prepared fried lionfish, ceviche’ and other preparations of this wonderful white meat.

The evening ended with the awards ceremony and the winners being announced.

Proceeds from the event benefit both the Down Syndrome of Jacksonville and REEF.

Stay tuned for 2014. The goal is for over 1000 lionfish in that event and bigger awards.

 

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Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Contest, Diver, Divetalking, Donation, Earth, Education, Events, extinction, Featured, Fish, Games, Grouper, Lionfish, ocean, Open Water, Promotions, Recognition, Reefs, Reference, Report · Tags: , , , ,

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